Electrically operated signboard



Dec. 23, 1952 e. R. C-HERVENKA ETAL 2,523,111

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNBQARD I Filed Oct. 15, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet l VHS @RS O O- O E E 0000 CO SCHEDL NAIIMIEEI 0 O 0 D 0 O I o 00 z 4 W TENS 2 ONES TENS ONES CHANEO O-IANZED SELECT 7 SELECT 5 e, 7 C ,7, 0/4 6 4\ 4H ,7 7 3 -a 3- -s T 2 69 2' 2 H59 2V H59 4 I OFF OFF OFF HOME TEAM VISITORS QUARTERS DOWNS YARDS TO so k ,3 l ds/ 4 4 6 OFF ,4 OFF /4 I /7 B zoz 4 :0! SELECT 9 C OFF SELECT OFF FRI/7 EV ONES 4 INVENTORS GEORGE R.CHERVENKA ROBERT E. KANE BY W U ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1952 G. R. CHERVENKA HAL 2,523,111

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED 'SIGNBOARD Filed Oct. 13. 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 /SEG./ SEVEN/ Z7 INVENTORS GEORGE R. CHERVENKA ROBERT E. KANE BYWW ATTORNEY Dec; 23, 1952 G. R. CHERVENKA ETAL 2,523,111

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNBOARD 3/2 INVENTORS GEORGE RCHERVENKA BY ROBERT E. KANE 2 G. R. mam/mm ET AL 2,623,111

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SICNBOARD Filed Oct. 13. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS g GEORGE R CHERVENKA R0 8W BY W42 ATT NEY FIG. 3|.

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Dec; 23, 1952 G. R; CHERVENKA ETAL 2,523,111

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNBOARD 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed 00;. 13, 1949 FIG. 32 A.

9 Z I 3 y 5 [UL 4% If W H mvzmo RS GEORGE R. CHERVENKA BY ROBERT E. KANE AT TO RNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1952 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNBOARD George R. Chervenka, St. Louis, and Robert E. Kane, Glendale, Mo., assignors to The Medart Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 13, 1949, S eria l No. 121,208

This invention relates in general to visual signaling devices and more particularly to'certain new and useful improvements in electrically actuated scoreboards and the like.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an electrically actuated scoreboard containing a plurality of light bulbs adapted for illumination by remote control means for presenting selected intelligible patterns.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide indicating panels which incorporate solenoid actuated rotary switch means ,for reliably effecting illumination of the requisite light bulbs forming any desired pattern.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a standardized type-of indicating panel which may be utilized in any selected number to provide a scoreboard of any desired type or kind with the totality of such indicating panels so used being operated at a singleremote point.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a remote-control scoreboard consisting'of a plurality of identical indicating panels wh ch may all be connected to a unitary control box through a single main cable having one set of wires common to all panels and a set of wires adapted for selectively operating any one or more of the panels in any desired sequence through the common set of wires. Y

It is similarly an object of the present invention to provide a scoreboard of the type above stated in which any desired number of indicator panels may be readily plugged inon a-suitable main cable to provide s mple economical installation, maintenance, and repair and afiord an exceptionally high degree of flexibility in design and arrangement.

It is a further obiect of the present invention to provide an indicating panel with associated operating members which are economically constructed and durable in use.

With the above and other objects in view, our invent on resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (7 sheets)- Figure 1 is a front view of the scoreboard constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; I

Figure 2 is a front view of the control box;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the scoreboard; g

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2; r

3 Claims. (01. 177-346) Figure 5 is a transverse sectionalvi'ew taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3; --Figure 6 is a transverse sectional along line 6-6 of Figure 5;-

Figure 7 is a top view of a rotary switch;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view' taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a rear end view of the rotary switch;

Figures 10 to 26, inclusive, are transverse sectional views taken respectively along lines Ill-l 0, ll-H, l2-l2, l3-I3, l4-l4, 15-15, Iii-I6, l'l-ll, 18-18, l9-l9, 20-20, 2I-2l, 22-22, 23-23, 24-24, 25-25, and 26-26 of FigureB;

Figure 27 is a front end view of the rotary switch;

Figure 28 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 28-28 of Figure 15;

Figure 29 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 29-29 of Figure 20; .I

Figure 30 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 30-30 of Figure 29;

Figure 31 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connections between the rotary switch and the lamp box which it is associated;

Figures 32 and 32a 'conjunctively constitute a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the various circuits between the control box and the switches; and

Figures 33, 34, and 35 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively along lines 33-33, 34-34, and 35-35 of Figure 4.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodimentof the present invention, A. designates a scoreboard which, for purposes of example, is shown as adapted for use in a football field but may be used with equal facility for baseball, basketbalLand other sports. The scoreboard A comprises a plurality of spaced uprights I, preferably of angle sections, suitably secured at their lower ends in the ground or any other suitable supporting surface, and supported by braces 2 wh ch are joined, at their upper ends, by -gusset plates 3 to the uprights l. Horizontally disposed between the uprights I is a plurality of'rectangular panels 4 all of the same size and provided with rearwardly projecting peripheral flange 5 having matching apertures for receiving bolts 6 by which the panels 4 are marginally secured to each other and to vertical uprights 1.

Provided on the outwardly presented faces of the panels 4 adjacent the upper and lower margins thereof are transversely extending guideways 1' for slidably receiving-letter or numeral con;-

view taken designations upon the scoreboard Afor indication.

of the appropriate count, as will be shown more fully hereinafter.

. Each lamp-box 1) comprises a back plate '9' (see Figures 5 and 6) and side walls I having lateral- 1y outwardly projecting flanges l which are pro- ,videdwith-spaced apertures l2 for receivingbolts l3 which extend throughal gned apertures in-a cover plate lfiwandyareengaged by nuts .I 5. The bolts |3 are elongated" and project rearwardly through-suitablyaligned apertures I6 around the openingB for receiving a second nut thereby rigidly securing the lamp-box b to the panel-4 with which it is associated. The cover plate l4 isiturned forwardly atits margins in the provision ,ofa peripheral guard-fiange. Mounted in and extending through the cover plate 14 are twenty- ,six conventional electric lamp sockets I8, arrangeddn spaced, parallel, vertical rows (Figure '6):,::each'provided with a lamp bulb l9. For purposes of clarification, the twenty-six bulbs are numbered 19a, I91), I9 0, I301, I96, I91, I99, I971, I92, I97, i9k, I91, Him, Ian, 19o, l9p, ,l9q, i9r, 19s, .|9t, :lflu, 1912,1914), I300, I941, and ,l9z, arranged in the lamp-boxes b, substantiallyin the followingcon- Itwillbe noted-i-that:there-areno sockets i8 "or bulbs i9 inthe spaces beneath bulbs |3band l9q :because' these spaces; arenot-needed in any ofthe configurations orlight patternsemployed :to iorm the digits 0 to 9, inclusive, as may be seen. by reference to Figure l.

"conventionally mounted upon the rearwardly presented face of the cover plate I4 is a rotary switch*20 adapted for controlling the light-circuits and establishing various number patterns.

The rotary switch 20 comprises abase plate 2| having a suitably'apertured depending flange 22 for accommodating bolts 23 by whichit is secured ,to'rtherearsideof the cover plate |4. Secured bymeansofbclts 24 and rubber washers 25 upon the base'plate 2| is a-pairof spaced parallel bearing plates 25, '21, and mounted in uniformly spaced parallel relation therebetween, by means ofscrew posts 29 and tubular spacers 30, are six dielectric" stator-disks, 3|,32, 33,-34,135,and 35, each :centrally'provided"with a relatively large concentric aperture 31 and being subdivided around its periphery into twelve uniform segments or contact-positions which for convenience of reference herein may be designated as stator segment one, "stator segment two, and so on, reading clockwise, around to stator segment ,-tw.elveas shown in Figure'l. The several stator disks, 3|,32, 33, 34, 35, and 36:.are each provided with a plurality of contact blades 33, 38, and

33k, 382, 38m, 387L, 380, 38p, 38q, 381", 38sv, 38t, 38w,3Bm-y, 33a, which are each respectively connected toone terminal or lead from the lamps |9a .,.t0 ,lSzinclusive. It will be noted that there are only. twenty-,twosuch lamp-connected contacts 38a to 382 inclusiveas compared with twenty-six lamps forthe reason that eight of the bulbs are paired, that is'to say, bulbs |9b and H30 are paired and jointly connected to contact blade 38b-c, bulbs |9f and |9u arepaired and jointly conare-pairedand Jointly connected to.. contactblade 38s--.u and finally, bulbs Hat-and l-flyarepaired and jointly connected to contact blade .38zy. The contact blades 38, 38" and 38a to 38z'inclusive are located in certain selected contact-positions .or' so-called stator segments, and ei- .ther upon therear or front faces of the several stator disks, 3|,-32,-33-, 34, 35, and 36, aswill presently be, morefullydescribed, the disk-faces shown in Figures 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, being referred to as rear faces and the disk faces shownin Figures 15, 17,19,21, 23, and 25 being referred to as front faces. The contact blades 38, 38", and 38a to: 382,1nclusive, are held in place by: rivets 39 and, are in turn provided with radially projecting connection lugsdn.

Jo'urnalledinand projecting at it ends through bearing plates. 26, 21, is a shaft 4| which extends concentricallythrough the apertures 4|" in each of thestator disks 3|,u32, 33,34, 35, .36, and is provided on diametrallyopposite sides substantially throughout :its entire length withcflatfaces 42, 43. At its outer end the shaft 4| projects through an aperture in a spring leaf, 45, spaced outwardlycf thetbearing plate 21. ,Mounted-upon theshaft4| for rotation therewith, intermediate the spring leaf .45 and the bearing plate 21, is a small metallic disk 46 (Figure 26) having twelve uniformly spaced apertures 41 disposed adjacent the periphery thereof in respective alignment with the stator segments. Similarly, the spring leaf .461isprovided withapair of apertures. located for registration with two diametrally ,opposite apertures.- 41. Held under the tensionof the spring leaf .43 between each pair ofregistering apertures 41, 48, are spherical ballsu49, -,50, thus providing a twelve-position ball-detent for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Fixed upon the shaft 4| for rotation therewith are six circular dielectric rotordisks' 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, sized for snug fitting rotation within the aperture 31; and respectively located in coplanar alignment with the stator disks 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Each of rotor disks 5|, 52, 53, 54,55, 56, may be said to be also divided into twelve segments corresponding to the segments'of the stator disks 3|,, 32,33, 34, 35, and .36, and when the rotary switch 20 isin foif position, as shown in Figures 14 to 25, inclusive, segment one" of each such rotordisk is radially aligned with the corresponding .segment one of the stator disk with which it is operatively associated and, the other segments .are accordingly matched.

Secured upon the irontfaceof-the rotordisk 5| is a continuous annular contact element 51 having a radially outwardly extending contact tongue 58 located in segment twelve. The contact blade 38' is located on the front face of the stator disk 3| in segment one and is a so-called "long blade, that is to say, it extends inwardly for continuous wiping contact with the annular contact element 51. In addition to this, the front face of the stator disk 3| is provided with eleven contact blades 38', each located in one of the other eleven segments, all of the contact blades 38' being so-called short blades, that is to say, extending radially inwardly only far enough to contact the tongue 58 but not the annular contact element 51. The rear faces of the stator disk 3I and rotor disk have no contact blades or contact elements and in effect may be said to be dead (Figures 14 and The front face of the rotor disk 52 is provided with an annular contact element 59 having a gap 60 in segment twelve and contact tongues BI, 92, respectively, in segments seven and nine. The stator disk 32 correspondingly is provided with a long contact blade 38 located in segment five and short contact blades 381', 38f-u, and 38p, respectively located in segments two, eight, and eleven. The rear face of the rotor disk 52 is provided with an annular contact element 63, having a gap 64 located in segment two and contact tongues 65, 66, and 6'! respectively located in segments three, five, and eight. The rear face of stator disk 32 is provided with a long contact blade 38 in segment five and short contact blades 38a, 381, and 38p, located respectively in segments one, "f-our and eleven. It will be noted that stator disk 32 is provided with duplicate contact blades 38p mounted in back to back relation and electrically connected to each other.

The front face of the rotor disk 53 is provided with annular contact elements 58, 69, which are separated from each other by gaps 10, II, respectively located in segments five and twelve. Furthermore, it should be noted that the contact elements are wide throughout their arcuate lengths for contacting both long and short contact blades. The front face of stator disk 33 is provided with a long contact blade 38 located in segment five and a short contact blade 38r-y located in segment one. The rear face of rotor disk 53' is provided with an annular contact element I2 having a gap I3 extending over segments ten, eleven, and twelve and a contact tongue I4 extending over segments one, "two, three, and four. The contact elements 58, 89, '12, are provided with inwardly extending integral ears I5 which are aligned and connected through the body of the rotor disk 53 by metallic rivets 73. Thus the contact elements 88, 89, I2, are electrically connected to each other. The rear face of stator disk 33 is provided with long contact blades 38h, 38s-v, 38e, respectively located in segments nine, ten, and "eleven and a short contact blade 38m lo cated in segment seven.

The front face of the rotor disk 54 is provided with an annular contact element TI having a contact tongue 18 covering segments two to seven, inclusive, and a contact tongue I9 covering segments eleven and twelve. The front face of stator disk 34 is provided with a long contact blade 38 located in segment five and a short contact blade 38t located in segment nine. The rear face of. the rotor disk 54 is provided with an annular contact element 80, having a contact tongue 8| covering segments four to six,' inclusive, and a contact tongue 82 covering segments "nine to twelve, inclusive. The contact elements TI, 88, are each provided with integral ears 83 which are electrically and structurally connected by a metallic rivet 84. The rear face of stator disk 34 is provided with short contact blades 38k, 3811, respectively located in segments two and three.

The front face of rotor disk 55 is provided with an annular contact element 85 having a contact tongue 85 covering segments five and six and a contact tongue 81 covering segment eight. The front face of stator disk 35 is provided with a long contact blade 38 located in segment five and short contact blades 3811, 382, located respectively in segments one and four. The rear face of rotor disk 55 is provided with two arcuate contact elements 88, 89 separated by a gap 99 across segment three and a gap 9| across segments ten and eleven. The contact element 83 is provided with a contact tongue 92 covering segments one and two, and contact element 89 is provided with a contact tongue 93 covering segments six and seven. The contact elements 85, 88, 89, are also provided with a plurality of integral ears 94 which are structurally and electrically connected by metallic rivets 95. The rear face of stator disk 35 is provided with long contact blades 38g, 33bc, respectively located in segments ten" and eleven, and a short contact blade 380 located in segment nine.

The front face of rotor disk 58 is provided with an annular contact element 95 having contact tongues 91, 98, 99, respectively, located in segments three, five, and nine. The front face of stator disk 36 is provided with a long contact blade 38 located in segment five and short contact blades 38d, 38Z, respectively located in segments ten and eleven. The rear face of rotor disk 55 is provided with an annular contact element I09 having a gap Illl across segment eleven, a contact tongue I32 located in segment four and a contact tongue I93 covering segments eight and nine. Finally, the rear face of stator disk 33 is provided with a long contact blade 38 located in segment five and short contact blades 38w, 387', respectively located in segments two and three.

The stator disk 3| is provided on its rear face and adjacent the periphery thereof with two spaced, rearwardly projecting arms I84, I85, respectively, having radially outwardly extending connection lugs I86, I91. Fixed at the end upon the arm I84 is a spring-blade or interrupter arm I88 projecting at its other end over the arm I85 and being provided with a contact point )9 adapted for circuit making and breaking contactive engagement with a similar contact point IID mounted in the arm I35.

Rigidly secured upon the rear face of the bearing plate 26, by means of spacer sleeves HI, is a rotary solenoid H2 comprising an open-ended cylindrical cover I I3 having a centrally apertured rear wall II4 extending through which is a stub shaft I I5 provided on its outer end with a rigidly secured, concentric rotary armature H5. The stub shaft H5 is threadedly mounted in. an internally threaded, stationary sleeve III concentrically fixed in an end plug I I8 disposed closurewise across the open front end of the cover II3. It will be noted that the internal thread of the sleeve I I! is a very coarse pitch or fast running thread which is, in effect, equivalent to a camming groove, so that when the armature Hi3 is pulled forwardly, the shaft H5 is rotated- Mounted within the cover lit and disposed concentrically around the shaft H5 is a doughnut-shaped electromagnetic coil H9 having two at-its other end to the bottom portion of the hearing plate 25. The ratchet wheel is provided with a forwardly extending finger I24 and a plurality of forwardly bent ratchet teeth iii; adapted for operative engagement with the rearwar ly bentlratchet teeth lfiifi on a driven ratchet wheel I21 mounted upon the rearwardly projecting end ofthe shaft t! (see Figure 12). It should be noted in connection herewith that the ratchet wheels I22, E iii, are normally spaced axially from each other by a distance approximately equal to the amount of longitudinal movement of the shaft I 55 and in such position are disengaged.

At its upwardly presented end the finger I34 will normally engage the underside of an elongated arm I28 projecting laterally from a dielectric plate IZS, mounted loosely upon the shaft t! in co-planar alignment with the interrupter arm H38. llhe plate M9 is held in surface abutting relation against the bearing plate 26 by a metallic plate I38 and a spring I3! encirclingly disposed about the shaft 45. Formed integrally with, and projecting laterally from the dielectric plate I 29 is a second arm I32 which projects outwardly into the path of movement of the finger I24 whereby the dielectric plate I23 will be swung to and fro. On its outer end the arm I32 is provided with a cam lobe I33 adapted to contact the interrupter arm Hi8 and drive it outwardly for breaking the contact between the contact points I09, Ill). The outer face of the cover wall II 4 is provided with a plurality of arcuate recesses I34 arranged concentrically around the aperture II5 for receiving free-rolling ball members I35 which are maintained therein by an end plate I35 rigidly mounted on the .rearwardly projecting end of the shaft H5 and being provided on its inner face with arcuate recesses I36 corresponding to the recesses I34 and adapted for complementary engagement with the ball members I35.

When the solenoid H2 is energized the magnetic coil H9 will drive the shaft H5 through a partial revolution until the circuit through the interrupter IE8 is broken whereupon the shaft H5 will return to initial position and the interrupter Hi3 will close again re-establishing the circuit. The spatial relation between the ratchet teeth I25, I25, is such that the shaft 4| is moved through one-twelfth of a revolution for each movement of the shaft H5. Thus the shaft 4! is intermittently rotated in a step-by-step manner one-twelfth of a revolution at a time as long as electrical current is applied across the terminal I2ll and the connection lug Illl. It will be seen that each such step of movement corresponds to one segment of the stator disks 3i, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Thus the rotary switch 2i! may thus be said to have twelve positions which,

for purposes of description herein, may be referred to as first position, second position," third position, and so on up to twelfth position, starting with the so-called off position shown in Figures 14 to 25, inclusive, in which segment one of each of the rotor disks 5| to 55, inclusive, is radially aligned with segment one of each of the stator disks (H to 36, inclusive.

Responsive to the first impulse of current through the solenoid I I2 the rotary switch 20 will progress to second position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, will be radially aligned with segment one of each stator disk SI, 32, '33, 34, 35, 3G. As the retary switch Zil passes through this second position, lamp bulbs ISLIQg, IQk, I9m, I91, I9s, I9u, ito, will blink on momentarily. The rotary switch 20 however, never stops in second position so the light pattern thus formed, which is meaningless, neednot be traced out.

Responsive to the secondimpulse through the solenoid II2,'the rotary switch 20 willmove into third position, in which segment twelve of each rotor disk El, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, will be opposite segment two of each corresponding stator disk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position, contact blades 3llbc, 38g, will be in contact with contact element'llfl; contact blades 386, 381, 3th, 3tsv, will be in contact with contact element l2; contact blade 38r-y will be in contact with contact element 63; contact blade 3810 will be in contact with contact tongue 82; .con tact blade 380 will be in contact with contact tongue 53; and contact blade 38p will be in contact with contact tongue 62, and assuming the various necessary electrical circuits-of the score board to be energized, as will be presently more fully described, the following light pattern will be formed:

This light pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 0.

Responsive to the third impulse through the solenoid N2 the rotary switch 28 will move into fourth position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk iii, 52, 53, "5d, 55, 56, will be opposite segment three of each corresponding stator disk 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36. In this position the contact blades 33c, 38h, 38s--v, will be in contact with contact element 12; contactblade 38bc will bein contact with contactelementBQ; contact blade 38g will be in contact with contact element 39 and contact tongue 93; contact blades 387e, 3812, will be in contact with contact tongue 82; contact blade 3312 will be in contact with contact tongue '18; contact blade38a:-y will be in contact with contact element 69; contact blade 38m will be in contact with contact tongue 14; and, assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to be energized, 'as'will 9 be presently more fully described, the following light pattern will be formed:

This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read "9.

Responsive to the fourth impulse through the solenoid H2 the rotary switch 28 will move into fifth position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, will be opposite segment four of each corresponding stator disk 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position the contact blades 38bc, 38g, will be in contact with contact element 39 and contact tongue 93; contact blades 38s--v, 38c, 38h, will be in contact with contact element 12; contact blades 38k, 38n, will be in contact with contact tongue 82; contact blade 38m will be in contact with contact tongue 14; contact blade 38p will be in contact with contact with contact tongue 6i; contact blade 38t will be in contact with contact tongue 18; contact blade 38x-y will be in contact with contact element 69; contact blade 3850 is in contact with contact tongue 61 but is dead because gap 64 is opposite contact blade 38; and, assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to be energized, as will be presently more fully described, the followin light pattern will be formed:

This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 8.

Responsive to the fifth impulse through the solenoid H2 the rotary switch 20 will move into sixth position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, will be opposite segment five of each corresponding stator disk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position the contact blade 38a will be in contact with contact tongue 61; contact blade 38b--c will be in contact with contact element 89 and contact tongue 93; contact blade 3801 will be in contact with contact tongue 98; contact blade 38g will be in contact with contact element 89; contact blades 38k, 3811 will be in contact with contact tongue 82; con- 1o" contact with contact'element 69, but is dead because the gap H is opposite contact blade 38. Similarly, contact blade 382' is incontact with contact tongue 62 but is dead because gap'68 is opposite contact blade 38; and, assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to be energized, as will be presently more fully described, the following light pattern will be formed:

13a 19b 19c 19d 3 This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 7. Responsive to the sixth impulse through the solenoid H2 the rotary switch 20 will move into seventh position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 5|, 52, 53, 54, 56, will be opposite segment six of each corresponding stator ldisk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position the contact blades 38b--c, 389, will be in contact with contact element 89; contact blade 38c, will be in contact with contact element 12; contact blades 38h, 385-22, will be in contact with contact element 12 and contact tongue 14; contact blade 381 will be in contact with contact tongue 98; contact blade 38m will be in contact with contact tongue 14; contact blade 3811. will be in contact with contact tongue 82; contact blade .1381) will be in contact with contact tongue 66;

contact blade 38t will be in contact with contact tongue 18; contact blade 38m-y will be in contact with contact element 69; contact blades 38w, 387', are in contact with contact tongue I83 51 but are dead because the gap I0! is opposite tact blade 33:; will be in contact with contact tongue contact blade 38?? will be in contact with contact tongue 18; contact blade 38w will be in contact with contact tongue I03; contact blades 381, 38.9-12, 38h, are in contact with contact element 12; contact blade 38m is in contact with contact tongue 14; contact blade 38x-yis in l This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read "6."

Responsive tothe seventh impulse through the solenoid m the rotary switch 20 will move into of each corresponding contact blades 38c, 38h, 33s--'u, will be in contact with contact element 12 and tongue I4; contact blade 381' will be in contact with contact tongue 6|; contact blade 389' will be in contact with contact tongue I03; contact blade 380 will be in contact with contact tongue 92; contact blade 3815 will be in contact with contact tongue l8; contact blade 38r-y will be, in contact with contact element 69; and, assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to be energized, as will be presently more fully described, the following light pattern will be formed:

19a 19b 19c 19d This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 5,

Responsive to the eighth impulse through the disk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position the contact blade 38a will be in contact with contact tongue 86; contact blades 38c, 33h, 38s-o, will be in contact with contact element 12 and contact tongue 14; contact blade 381 will be in contact with contact tongue 91; contact blades 38g, 380, will be in contact with contact tongue 92; contact blade 3810 will be in contact with contact tongue 8|; contact blade 38p will be in contact with contact tongue 55; contact blade 38q will be in contact with contact tongue 66; contact blade 381* will be in contact with contact tongue 51; contact blade 382 will be in contact with contact tongue 81; and, assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to. be energized, as will be presently more fully de-v scribed, the following light pattern will be formed:

19p 19g 19r 19s This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 4.

Responsive to the ninth impulse through the solenoid N2 the rotary switch 20 will move into tenth position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 52, 55, 54, 55, 55, Will be opposite segment nine of each corresponding stator disk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position the contact blades 38b--c, 38g, will be in contact with contact tongue 92; contact blades 38c, 38s-o, will be in contact with contactelement l2 and contact tongue 14; contact blades 38k, 381i, will be in contact with contact tongue 8|; contact blade 33t will be in contact with contact tongue 19; contact blade 38.ry will be in contact with contact element 68; and assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to be energized, as will be presently more fully described, .the following light pattern will be formed:

This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 3.

Responsive to the tenth impulse through the solenoid N2 the rotary switch 20 will move into eleventh position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, will be opposite segment ten of each corresponding stator disk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this position the contact blade 38bc will be in contact with contact tongue 92; contact blade 332 will be in contact with contact element 12 and contact tongue 14; contact blade 38g will be in contact with contact element 88; contact blades 3870, 3811 19w 19a: 19g 192 This pattern will, then remotely viewed, read 2.

Responsive to the eleventh impulse through the solenoid N2 the rotary switch 23 will move into twelfth position in which segment twelve of each rotor disk 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 55, will be opposite segment eleven of each corresponding stator disk 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In this, position the contact blade 38b-c will be in contact with contact element 88; contact blade 38f-u will be in contact with contact tongue 62; contact blade 387' will be in contact with contact tongue [02; contact blade 3812 will be in contact with contact tongue 8|; contact blade- 381 will be in contact with contact tongue 66;

contact blade 38x-y will be in contact with contact element 68; contact blade 382 will be in contact with contact tongue 86; and, assuming the various necessary electrical circuits of the scoreboard to be energized as will be presently more fully described, the following light pattern will be formed:

This pattern will, when remotely viewed, read 1.

Responsive to the next impulse through the solenoid I I2 the rotary switch 20 will complete one full revolution and return to its initial position, that is to say, first or ofi position, in which all light circuits are dead.

Each lamp-box b is provided with a four-wire cable I31 containing four single lead-wires I38, I39, I40, I4I. within the lamp-box 1) (see Figure 31) to a lead wire I42 common to the several contact blades 38 on stator disks 32, 33, 34, 35, 33 (but not the contact blade 38 of stator disk 3|). As has been above-stated, one terminal of each of the lamp bulbs I 9a to I92, inclusive, is connected to its corresponding contact blade 39a to 38s, inclusive, of the rotary switch. The other terminal of each of the lamp bulbs is connected to a common lead wire I43 and the lead wire I49 is connected within the lamp box b to this common lead wire I43. The lead wire I39 is connected, within the lamp box b, through the lead wire I44 to the terminal or lead wire I20 of the coil H9. The lead wire MI is connected within the lamp box b to the connection lug I01 and thence through th interrupter arm I08 to the other lead I2I of the coil H9. The connection lug I06 is grounded to the prong I50 through a small condenser I45 and resistor I46 which are connected to each other in series and function to suppress sparks and arcing between the contact points I09, H0, and elsewhere in the control circuits. The other end or the cable I38 is provided with a fourpronged connector plug I41 in which the four prongs I48, I49, I50, and II, are respectively connected to lead wires I38, I39, I40, I4I.

Each lamp box b is also provided. with an eleven wire cable I52 containing eleven single lead wires, I53, I54, I55, I56, I51, I58, I59, I60, I6I, I62, I63, respectively connected within the lamp-box b to the contact blades 38 of stator disk 3I in the rotary switch 20, the lead wire I53 being connected to the contact blade 38 of segment two, the lead wire I54 being connected to the contact blade 38 of segment three and so on consecutively around to lead wire I63, which is connected to the contact blade 38' of segment twelve. It will be noted that there is no lead wire in cable I52 to correspond to the contact blade 38 of segment one and that such contact blade 38, which may be referred to as the take-01f contact blade, is connected, through a hold-in resistor I64, to lead I2I of the solenoid coil 9.

The lead-wire I38 is connected 14 At its other end the cable I52 is provided with a connector plug I65 having eleven prongs I66, I61, I68, I69, I10, I1I, I12, I13, I14, I15, I16 which are respectively connected to lead wires I53, I54, I55, I56, I51, I58, I59, I60, IBI, I62, and I63.

Located at any remote point, such as the press booth in a stadium, or, if the particular sport is indoors, at the official scorers table in an arena is a control box 0 comprising a rectangular box I11 having a dielectric face-panel I18, four side walls I19, and a bottom wall I80. Suitably mounted on and depending from the face-panel I18 are a plurality of identical cycle selector switches I8I. Since the presently described scoreboard A has been shown with eight lamp boxes, as would render it suitable for football games, the control box 0 is shown with eight switches I8I.

Each of the selector switches I8I comprises an externally threaded mounting sleeve I82 extending through the panel I18 and held. rigidly in place by lock nuts I83, I84. Fixed upon the lower end of the sleeve I82 and disposed concentrically therearound in downwardly spaced parallel relation to the panel I18 is a dielectric disk having twelve uniformly spaced contact buttons, I85, I85, I81, I89, I99, I90, I91, I92, I93, I94, I95, I96, arranged concentrically around the sleeve I82. Rotatably mounted in and extending through the sleeve I82 is a shaft I91 provided on its lower projecting end with a collar I93 held rigidly thereon by a set screw I99 and integrally provided with a radial contact arm 299 adapted for wiping contactive engagement with the contact buttons I85, I89, I81, I58, I99, I9, I9I, I92, I93, I94, I95, I95. The shaft I91 fits snugly enough within the sleeve I82 to maintain good electrical contact therewith.

At its upper end the shaft I91 projects upwardly above the sleeve I82 and is molded into a dielectric knob 20I having a radial pointer 292 vertically aligned with the contact arm 200. Interposed between the upper end of the sleeve I92 and the under face of the knob 20I is a dished spring washer 293 for biasing the shaft I91 and contact arm 290 upwardly. The pointer 292 sweeps over a dial 294 stencilled or otherwise imprinted upon the face of panel I19. It will be noted by reference to Figure 2 that six of said dials 264 have twelve indicator marks or graduations representing the digits one to nine, zero and two ofi positions. These six dials, arranged in pairs, are associated with the lamp boxes b on the scoreboard A which indicate the Visitors and the Home team scores and the yards. The arrangement in pairs thus provides means for indicating the appropriate number whether it be in single units or in two digits, the right hand dial 294 of each of said pairs as shown in Figure 2 being employed to indicate units digits and the other or left hand dial 204 being employed to indicate tens digits. Downs are provided with but five positions comprising the numerals one to four, inclusive, and an off position conventional limit stops 205 being mounted in the panel I18 to prevent further movement. The various indicated positions upon the dials 20 5 are each vertically aligned with one of the contact buttons I to I93, so that the graduation reading 0 corresponds to contact button I95, the graduation reading 9 corresponds to contact button I86, and so on in descending order around to the graduation reading 1 which corresponds tothe contact button I94. The two contact but- 1% 150115195, lfifi correspondto the two offrpositions and are. connected together.

Mounted in and depending fromthe panel Hit; in association with each selector switch is a manual control switch flit-comprising an externally threaded mounting sleeve 26? extending:

through, and held securely. to, they panel IT'S-between lock'nuts 238.

Rigidly mounted on the lower end of the sleeve 23lis ahollow. rectangular: box'like housing 209 .formed of "dielectric material: and havinga flat bottom.wall-.2lti provided with: three spaced contact-buttons2I Ii, 2I2, 2I3; and two upstanding: ver-tical pins 2 I4, 2 I15, arranged:

in" a straight line.. Mounted in. and. projecting.

throughthe sleeve2ill is:a plunger-rod 2I.6.;.pro.- vided at-its upper end with a dielectric. push:v button or. knob :2 I I. At its lower end the plunger. rod ZIB projects intoa the hollowsinterion OfillhBl. housing 209 and is provided with a; dielectric cross bar 2 I 8 having apertures 2.I.9:, 22.3 for; slid.-

ing disposition around the pins 2I4;.2i.5, IBSpG:--. tively. Coiledaround the pins2jl4, 2I5.,,between:. the under face of the bar 2I8 and the upper. face.

of the wall 2W, are compression springs 22I, ref

spectively, for normally biasing the bar-2I8cand. its associated plunger-rod 2H5" upwardly. On its.- under face the cross bar 2I3'is provided with. ametallic conductor. plate adapted to engage and.

simultaneously. interconnect the three contact buttons 2II, 2I2, 2I3, when the cross bar 2H3 is shifted downwardly upon downward movement.

of the plunger-rod 2w responsive to COITBSPOHd'? ing manual actuation of the push-button 2H.

The control box c-is provided with an elevenwire cable 222, containing eleven single lead wires, 223, 224,225, 226, 227, 228, 229; 233.2%,

232, 233, which respectively correspondto the.

lead wires I53, I54, I55, Iii-3, I57, I58, I59, I60; Ilil, I62, M3. The lead wire 223 is connected in common to all contact buttons I86 of the several selector switches IBI, similarly, the lead wire 224 is connected in common to all the contact buttons I31, and so on, consecutively, to lead wire 232 which is connected in common to all contact buttons I54. The lead wire 233, which. may be referred to as the off-positionwire.is

connected in common to each of the pairs of in.- ternally connected contact buttons I35I93. It should be noted in this connection that the two selector switches Itl whichhaveonly four digits and an oil position are correspondingly connected to the lead wires of the cable 222:; thatis-to I94, andsay, contact buttons WI, I92, I33, I35--I 36 are connected to lead wires-223, 230, 231, 232, and the off position wire 233rrespectively;

the remaining contact buttonsbeing unusedand:

hence not connected.

Also running into the control box 0 Ba nine-F. wire cable 234 having nine single lead wires, 235,.

the sleeve I82 of the particular selector switch I8I with which its control switch 2031s associated and thus through such sleeve I32 to the contact arm thereof.

Also mounted in any convenient position in the rear side of the scoreboard A is a junction box-D provided with a conventional doublepole singlewthrow vA. C.- line switch having: suitable protective fuses 245. Preferably mounted in the junction box D is a conventional selenium rectifier- 2461 and electrolytic condenser 24'! connected across A. 0. lead wires.248,. 2495' coming.- from the line switch 244, and having :aD; C; offtake lead 250. It will be noted that the A. C.

lead wire 249 is, in effect, the ground wire and is common to both the A. C. circuits and D. C.

circuits. Thus, all D.,.C.. circuits are, in effect,

connected across the D. C. off-take lead wire 250 and the ground wire 249.

The cables 242, and 235 from the control box c, and the several pairs of cables 231, I52, from the lamp boxes b all run into the junction box D and are therein connected by conventional connector plugs and plug-receptacles to complete the circuits shown in the wiring diagram, Figures 32 and The connector-plugsand receptacles as such are not shown, however, but instead, for purposes; of greater; clarity, the; actual; connecjations of the;circuit-are. shownschematically,

R f rrinslnow. to F ure 32; i W 11'.be.seen.:thet;..

I the ground line of 24 9'; which seryes;,asa ground;

for both the. alternating; currentand direct; cur: rent circuits, is connected to thelead; wire running-to the "manual controljswitches;205 The direct current lineZBD-is connected toea-ch of the; prongs: 549-. andthence to the terminal J20 of; each solenoid @011; I131. The alternating; current. line 2434s, connected to each; of the pI'DnESIM and thence through lines I38:an d I42 to each of; the contact bladesfaii of-the stator ,disks, 3.-2, ,33;, ;.1 a h o h rrctary sw t hes? el. ground wire 249:.is also connectedgto each pron-g I53 andthence through the line I40 to; the-,com e, mon light circuit lead'wire I43;in eachofthe; lamp boxes b. Finally, the; control wireg23 6yisa connected-solely to the prong I51 associated with one lamp ybDX band lthence throughlentil 'WlIBf," I 41 to theinterruptercontact point, III Similarly I the control wire; 23lis connected solely to the prong 25I of another lamp boxb and-soon so' lamp box b injthe low-er righkhandmorner eithe scoreboardshown;inlFigureil, in which, foruex-am ple, fourteen of v the. twenty-sixlamp bulbs 1..I 9.;31183 illuminated .topresentalight pattern readingfa'i. For purposes of clarityinillustration, the lighted; lights in the various number-patterns:arelsh'own-t in Figure las full-line circles, thelunlightedlightst being omit-ted.

The line switch 2441s-c1osed-to placethe scoreboard A in operative condition. Then thecpera tor turns-the pointer 262 of the lowerright-hand selectorswitch Itl (relerence being made to Figure 32a) of the control box- 0 to thegraduation-- 8 thereon. In this position, the contact button I81 corresponding to the number selected, i. e. 81* is in contact with thecontact arm 200' and hence such contact button IB'I will be live, so to speak; The push-button 2i? of the control switch 206 associated with suchselector switch I8I ls-then pushed downwardly to close the circuit betweenthe ground wire 249 and the control line 248; and

"also,rthrough=the contact button I81, the lead wire 1228, and the lead wire I58 to the contact blade'38'jlocated in segment four of stator disk 3| in'the rotary switch 20 associated with the particular lamp box b under discussion. Direct current is thus conducted directly through the interrupter .arm H18 to the solenoid coil II9 for closingthe'circuit'thereto. Upon the closing of this circuit, the solenoid I I2 is thereby activated for causing the shaft I I5 to rotate thereby rotating the shaft M. Upon rotation of the shaft II5 the finger I24 on the ratchet wheel I22 will engage the arm I32 of the dielectric plate I29 causing the cam lobe I33 thereof to abut against the interrupter arm I08 swinging the latter outwardly and thereby breaking the contact between the contact points I09, IIIJ, so that the .circuit will be momentarily opened to stop continued rotation of the shaft II5. Through the action of the-spring I23 the shaft II5 will be rocked backwardly to its original position. Such return movement of the shaft II5 will cause the finger I24 t-o abut against the other arm I28 of the dielectric plate I29 and cause it to be rocked to its original position, ;outuof contact with the interrupter arm I08, thereby permitting the interrupter member I to return into circuit closing position. Upon such reclosing of the'circuit, a similar cycle of rotation of the shaft I I is effected. Thus each successive impulse-through the solenoid coil II9 will cause the shaft 4| and the rotor disks 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56 to progress in successive steps from first position to second position and so on around. Thus, the contact tongue 58 on the rotor disk 48 is advanced step by step. After the fourth impulse the contact tongue 51, and with it the rest of the switch 20, will move into fifth position. In this position, the contact tongue 58 will come into contact with the contact blade 38' which is hot so to speak, by reason of connection through the selector switch contact button I81 to the ground wire 249. Current is thus transmitted through the contact element 5'! to the contact blade 38 associate-d therewith and thence through the hold-in resistor I54 to the solenoid coil H9, in effect, by-passing the interrupter arm I08 and causing the solenoid II2 to stop in that position. The resistor I64, of course, consumes the bulk of the current and transmits only enough current to hold the solei noid I I2 in closed position with-out damaging the coil H9. Thus the rotary switch will stop in its fifth position and in such position a light pattern visually forming the numeral 8 will be established as previously described.

When the push-button 2II is released the solenoid coil H9 will become tie-energized and the solenoid H2 will return to initial position ready for the next impulse, but the rotary switch will remain in fifth position until its corresponding selector switch It! is re-set and the associated manual control switch 285 is again closed. It should be noted in this connection that the solenoid I !2 will only move under a full-current impulse transmitted by closure of the manual control switch 206. Any other impulses which may fortuitously come through the common eleven-wire cable 552 will be blocked out in the resistor I64.

The total time elapsed between pressing the requisite push-button 2I1 and the ultimate illumination of the selected light pattern upon the associated lamp box b is infinitely small so which will be instantaneously effected during the movement of rotary switch '20 through its first fourpositions will be so fleetingly presented that they will be incapable of intelligible readingand hence to all outward appearances it will seem that the desired light pattern is immediately established upon operation of the proper control switch 206.

It is, of course, obvious that the various rotary switches 20 couldbe modified by the provisionof additional disks and connectedto an appropriate number of lamp bulbs to permit the presentation of letter-formingpatterns, if desired. 7 I

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the'form, construction, arrangeme'nt,-and combination of the several parts of electrically actuated scoreboards maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and described without deoarting from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A signboard comprising aplurality of substantially identical units each having a group of electric lights arranged to produce different legible symbols when various lights are lighted to form selected light patterns, an operating switch associated with each unit, said operating switch having a plurality of positions, one such position correspondingto each different light. pattern, driving means operatively associated with said operating switch for moving it successively from one position to another, said operating switch having a series of position-selecting contacts, a cont-actor movable with the switch for successively engaging one of the several positionselecting contacts in each position of the switch, a remotely located control box, a control cable running from the control box to the signboard, said cable containing one control lead for each of the identical units in the si nboard, a sin le set of common leads, there being one such common lead corresponding to each position-selecting contact of one operating switch, such common leads being individually connected with the position-selecting contact to which it corresponds, all other position-selecting contacts of all other operating switches of the several units being connected to the particular common lead to which it corresponds, a plurality of selector switches operatively mounted in the control box, there being one selector switch for and associated with each unit, each selector switch having a series of contacts corresponding with the several position-selecting contacts of the operating switch in the unit with which such selector switch is associated, all of the corresponding contacts of each of the selector switches being connected to the common lead which is in turn connected to all of the several corresponding position-selecting cont-acts, each selector switch having a contact arm for optionally contacting any one of the several contacts of such selector switch, all of said contact arms of the several selector switches being connected to a common source of electric power, each of said control leads being also connected through an individual switch to the same source of power, and means connected with the contactor and the driving means for arresting movement of the driving means when the contactor engages one of the position selecting contacts which is energized as a result of transmission of electric current thereto through its corresponding control lead and selector switch contact.

2. A signboard comprising a plurality of substantially identical lamp boxes each having a group of electric lights arranged to produce different legible symbols when various lights are lighted to form selected light patterns, switching means in each lamp box for changing the light patterns in successive order, a control box having one selector switch for each lamp box, a single multi-wire cable connecting all of the switching means and selector switches in common, an auxiliary switch associated with each selector switch and being adapted upon closure to energize the selector switch, said auxiliary switch also being adapted upon closure to energize the switching means, and means associated with each switching means and its corresponding selector switch for causing the switching means to set up a light pattern established by the selector switch.

3. A signboardcomprising a plurality of substantially identical lamp boxes each having a group or electric lights arranged to produce different legible symbols when various lights are lighted to form selected light patterns, switching means in each lamp box for changing the light patterns in successive order, a control box having one selector switch for each lamp box, a junction box on the signboard, said junction box having aplurality of terminals, all of said lamp boxes being connected in common to the various terminals of the junction box, a single multi-wire cable connecting the various terminals of the GEORGE R. CHERVENKA. ROBERT E. KANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 883,992 Wentz Apr. 7, 1908 2,001,124 Cooke May 14, 1935 2,113,348 Atchison Apr. 5, 1938 2,177,938 Hamilton Oct. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 338,849 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1930 439,169 France June 7, 1912 492,562

Great Britain Sept. 22, 1938 

